As part of a series of interviews to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Diana
King, chairwoman of the Welsh Corgi League, says the Queen's corgi breeding
can be traced all the way back to a certain 18th birthday present.

8:00PM BST 23 May 2012

Mrs King said the Queen, who stopped breeding Welsh Pembroke corgis back in 2009 fearing that new puppies would "outlive her", is in fact in a league of her own when it comes to the dog that will forever be associated with the Royal Household.

"The Queen had her first corgi as an 18th birthday present and that was Susan," the corgi expert said.

"The Queen bred on from Susan and currently she is the only corgi breeder whose breeding goes back to her foundation bitch."

Her Majesty still owns three of the Welsh Pembroke dogs, Monty, Willow and Holly, according to the official website of the British Monarchy.

The small dog has even seen a boost in popularity in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, according to recent figures from the Kennel Club.